The Malaysian government has softened an earlier ban on the use of the word "Allah" by Christian publications to refer to God and is allowing them to use it as long as they specify the material is not for Muslims, a church official said Thursday.

Malaysia's ruling establishment faced fresh criticism Sunday after claiming that a journalist was detained under a draconian law for her own safety, with even a pro-government newspaper calling the explanation "most ridiculous."

Rights activists on Saturday condemned the arrest of a Malaysian opposition lawmaker and two journalists under a tough security law, accusing the government of trying to avert an opposition bid to seize power.

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has provided an alibi to police to prove he did not sodomize a male aide but will not give a DNA sample for fear it could be manipulated to frame him, his lawyer said Friday.